Standing as the ultimate riding experience, the BMW Motorrad ‘VISION NEXT 100’ concept motorcycle completes the german automotive brand’s centenary celebrations. as a look into what the future may be, BMW has envisioned four vehicles; the BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and the Motorad, which was unveiled at an exclusive show in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. the presentation concluded the ‘iconic impluses’ tour, fittingly finalizing their 100 year festivities exactly how the company first started – with a motorbike.

‘normally, when we develop a motorcycle, we tend to think 5 to 10 years in advance. on this occasion, we looked much further ahead and found the experience especially exciting. there are some very attractive prospects. I firmly believe the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 sets out a coherent future scenario for the BMW Motorrad brand‘, explains Edgar Heinrich, head of design at BMW Motorrad.

Referencing their origins, the BMW Motorrad ‘VISION NEXT 100’ concept features a black frame triangle that was influenced by their ‘R32’ motorcycle, which was made in 1923. its design has been reinterpreted as more of a functional sculpture that links the front and rear wheels with a dynamic sweep. this single, flowing frame is a clean surface, without any visible bearings and joints, and helps create a naked bike form from its side view. named ‘flexframe’, the construction aids steering by allowing light changing of direction and high rigidity when at top speeds.

the concept introduces modern technologies with the analogue riding experience of motorcycles, creating a completely new result. autonomous elements are a key part of this, intelligently connecting the rider, bike and outside world in a combination that offers a unique sense of freedom matched with safety. its self-driving features, and its self-balancing system, anticipate what lies ahead and alerts the user when specific action is needed. as a result, they offer complete rider protection, removing the need for helmets and body protection.

‘the BMW motorrad VISION NEXT 100 embodies the BMW Group’s vision of biking in a connected world – an analogue experience in a digital age. motorcycling is about escaping from the everyday: the moment you straddle your bike, you are absolutely free. your bike is the great escape‘, says edgar heinrich.

an important part of the technology of the BMW motorrad ‘VISION NEXT 100’, is the ubiquitous and discreet digital companion. this links the driver and bike, providing active support and situational information, but only when essential. the visor headset is imperative to this as it shows relevant data on the glass – similar to that of a heads-up display (HUD). information is only projected onto the screen on request or as an alert for action. this is to ensure a freer and undistracted riding experience, and offer better safety and focus on the road.

‘the bike has the full range of connected data from its surroundings and a set of intelligent systems working in the background, so it knows exactly what lies ahead. by collating the data it has gathered, it can suggest ideal lines and banking angles, or warn riders of hazards ahead,‘ explains holger hampf, head of user experience at the BMW group.

summarized as ‘the great escape’, the BMW motorrad ‘VISION NEXT 100’ concept creates a pure and unbounded ride experience. this has been created through its vast and high-intelligent connectivity between rider, motorcycle and the environment. the interaction, together with its multiple assisting and autonomous driving features, ensures that user of all levels and abilities are perfectly safe. as the final part of the ‘iconic impulses’ tour, the motorcycle fuses many elements from the BMW, MINI and rolls-royce concepts but joins them in a much more raw and, like its design, in a naked, free sense.